Importing violence

'Don't get conceited,' I thought, standing a bit deeper into the forest than where I would usually open up the portal. 

There were several reasons for this seemingly random change. 

First, there were over two thousand mercenary hostages, all gathered near the edge of the forest. That, in turn, forced the active warriors of the forest to squeeze together with them, both to keep the mercenaries in check and also to be on alert in case another human army attacked. 

That, in turn, led the non-combat members of the forest clans to move deeper into the forest, turning the usually calm and deserted lands of Madam's personal habitat a lot more busy than before.